I couldn’t let the season go by without posting some rhubarb recipe. It’s no secret that I love colorful foods, and rhubarb is right up there with the prettiest of ’em.
I hope rhubarb is still in season where you are! That way you can make this yummy cake.
Now I wasn’t raised on rhubarb; I don’t recall my mother ever making a strawberry rhubarb pie. In fact, I think last year was the first time I’d ever had rhubarb! It cracked me up when I first tasted it – looks like red celery, tastes like sour apples. What a funny little stalk!
I have a lot more experimenting to do with rhubarb, but let’s focus in on this particular experiment: coconut rhubarb cake.
This is a simple, sweet cake that is jazzed up with rhubarb, orange zest, and coconut. Coconut + rhubarb might be an unusual combination, but I love the way the sweetness of the cake and coconut contrast with the tang of the rhubarb. There is also some sugar sprinkled over the top to add a little caramelized crunch to the coconut flakes. Mmm a perfect little cake!
I did experiment with a yogurt cake as the base for this. I didn’t like how heavy it was, because this is a spring cake, after all. However, the pictures of that yogurt cake turned out so pretty that I just have to show you one:
I am just in love with that swirl of whipped cream on top! It’s actually coconut cream – my first time whipping it. Well, as it turns out, I don’t really care for whipped coconut cream. So on the final version, we have just regular whipped cream. A little slouchier, but in my opinion, much more delicious.
I think you can tell from these pictures that the texture of the second cake is muuuuch better. Light and fluffy! Nothing against yogurt cakes, but they are definitely supposed to be baked in a loaf pan and not dressed up like a spring cake.
Now there’s something about this cake that I’m a bit on the fence about: the placement of the big chunks of rhubarb. My first cake didn’t have enough rhubarb flavor, so I decided to add big chunks of it on the bottom of this cake. I love the way the small pieces of rhubarb look with the coconut on top of the cake, so I didn’t want to change that. But I think you can see that the big chunks of rhubarb just kind of sit on the bottom of the cake. If you want to experiment placing them somewhere else, you can – maybe mixed into the batter, or maybe cut all 3 cups of rhubarb into large chunks and keep them on top of the cake. No wrong way to do it, I don’t think!
So that’s my unusual combination for you: rhubarb + coconut. What are your favorite rhubarb dishes (other than strawberry rhubarb pie, of course)? I’m looking to do a bit more experimenting while rhubarb is still available! Aaaand if you’re lucky, I might be keeping a savory rhubarb-centric dish to show you soon.
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp orange zest
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 3 cups chopped rhubarb (1 to 2-inch chunks)
- 1 cup chopped rhubarb (1/4-inch slices)
- handful unsweetened flaked coconut
- Preheat oven to 350. Coat a spring-form pan with baking spray and dust with flour.
- In a medium-size bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of sugar, egg, milk, vanilla, and orange zest. Gradually add in the flour mixture, stirring until combined. Add the melted coconut oil and mix until thoroughly incorporated.
- Arrange large chunks of rhubarb on the bottom of the pan. (Alternately, these can be mixed into the batter or arranged on top; your choice.) Spread the cake batter over the rhubarb. Sprinkle small rhubarb slices and flaked coconut over the top. Dust with remaining 2 Tbsp sugar.
- Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs, 35-45 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
- Slice and serve with fresh whipped cream.
You dont like coconut whipped cream?! Girl, you’re crazy. I keep cans of coconut milk in the fridge always just in case a crazing for it strikes! This cake looks amazing, btw. I dont really have any rhubarb recipes, because I grew up just eating stalks of it… not normal?
Gorgeous! I’m glad you got in a rhubarb recipe because this cake looks awesome! Love the coconut flakes and zest for some added flavor!
I’ve found my birthday cake! Thanks, Erica!
Yay :) Your bday is coming up so soon!
that looks so yummy!!! We want to try rhubarb so bad… Never had it.. We can’t find it anywhere in Miami.
This looks SO good. I love coconut so I bet I’ll love this combination.
Rhubarb and coconut may seem unusual but I like the look of it. And I can’t wait to try it while I can still get my hands on rhubarb.
Ive never made anything with rhubarb although I have heard mixed thoughts about it. The cake looks awesome though!
It’s definitely only for people who like tart/sour flavors. I’ve heard everyone loves strawberry-rhubarb pie, although I’ve never tried it!
My mom used to always make strawberry + rhubarb pie! The sweetness of the strawberries balances the tartness of the rhubarb.
Interesting combo with coconut and rhubarb, I can imagine the coconut serves the same purpose as the strawberries, adding sweetness.
I use to eat fresh rhubarb from my grandparents’ garden, yummy!!
This sounds delicious. I cup of coffee and a slice of this sounds like the perfect breakfast for me! I’m no baker so I wish you could overnight a slice to me!
I, too, am new to rhubarb – never having tasted it growing up, until this year! My first recipe was a rhubarb and berry crisp and then I tried a rhubarb and peach stir fry – which was not an epic success – but this coconut and rhubarb cake looks so great!
Good luck with your experimenting!
A rhubarb and berry crisp sounds so perfect! That may make an appearance in my kitchen this summer :) Thanks for the comment, Shashi!
Do you think this would work if I substituted the egg with flax egg to make it vegan?
I love rhubarb and I love the look of this cake! Can’t wait to try it – thanks for sharing!
I also love yoghurt cakes and am wondering if you could pass on the recipe for the original yoghurt-based rhubarb and coconut cake you tried? I really like the sound of both versions :)
Olivia, it’s been so long that I don’t remember much about the yogurt cake recipe. My apologies!